Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson relishing dream Europa tie with mighty Juventus
Roy Hodgson says he isn't a dreamer, but even the most optimistic of managers could not have hoped to see Fulham play Juventus in the biggest match in the club's recent history.[LNB] It was less than two years ago that Fulham staved off relegation on the last day of the season with a win against Portsmouth.[LNB] Date with destiny: Bobby Zamora skips past Dickson Etuhu in training[LNB] Now, after coming through ties against AS Roma, FC Basle and Shakhtar Donetsk - the reigning UEFA Cup champions - Hodgson's side face the likes of World Cup winners Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Fabio Cannavaro in the last 16 of the Europa League.[LNB] [LNB]FULHAM v JUVENTUSFULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Duff, Greening, Etuhu, Davies; Gera, Zamora.JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Manninger; Zebina, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Grosso; Candreva, Poulsen, Sissoko; Diego; Del Piero, Trezequet.TV: Live on ITV4 from 8pm (kick-off 8.05).[LNB]The Fulham boss said: 'Given our position when I came to the club at the very end of 2007, I don't think many people would have given any credence to the fact that we could be this far forward in our development.[LNB] 'One could say that what we've done is beyond our dreams but then I think you'd have to be a dreamer in the first place to get beyond your dreams and I've never been a dreamer.'[LNB] With prices as high as £140 for the return leg at Craven Cottage on March 18, Fulham fans, however, are clearly starting to dream. And who can blame them when their fixture list for the next fortnight includes Juventus home and away, a Premier League trip to Old Trafford and an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Tottenham?[LNB] [LNB] Hodgson (right) said: 'There's no way we're going to be nonchalant about these two matches or the Cup replay against Tottenham because if we could progress further in either of those competitions tions it would be a magnificent feather in our cap.[LNB] 'I think it shows how far the club has come, to reach this stage of the Europa League. It's a great reward for an exciting European adventure when you get the chance to play at a club of Juventus's stature in the last 16.'[LNB] Juventus, who are currently sitting fifth in Italy's Serie A, may not be quite the Michel Platini-inspired side who beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final of the 1985 European Cup, but few can argue with the club's European pedigree.[LNB] Juventus boast two European Cups, three UEFA Cups and have contested 340 games in UEFA competition. Fulham's only European adventure before this season was a third-round finish in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.[LNB] Central defender Aaron Hughes, who will captain the side in the absence of the suspended Danny Murphy, said: 'It would certainly be a big scalp to take. They're still a massive club in Europe - if we could get something and progress it would be a massive result for us and would definitely stick out in the club's history.'[LNB] Hodgson added: 'We haven't had any European history so we are making history as we go along and we are very happy about that.[LNB] 'It would be nice if, at some time in the future, the club can improve on what this group of players has done but we're setting quite a high standard.' [LNB] Juventus v FULHAM: Skipper Danny Murphy banned for Euro glamour gameWembley awaits: FA Cup semi-final dates confirmed for trophy hunters[LNB] [LNB]
